Sunday, November 20, 2011

I am still keeping up with making our monthly quota of projects for the goodie bags for our National Quilt Festival but on Friday night, Karin and I had a couple of kind faeries over to give us a little (in fact a LOT of) help.
Iessie, 'tannie' Magriet and Wilna offered to give up a nights' sleep to sit and stitch with us and it felt like we moved mountains. We got no less than 100 of what we needed done and Karin could take 60 to get up to date and we shared the rest.

Now at least we just have half of what we're supposed to do left and they even took some home to finish further for us. then, absent but also a huge help is Rina, who took no less than 10 meters of fabric to work. Okay she doesn't sew it herself but pays someone to do it... still, less work for the two of us. Thanks Rina - must be lovely to have lots of money.

However the night and continuous stitching took its toll and we all took a break occasionally just to get our backs in a different position. Here Karin and 'tannie' Magriet changes position, scenery and enjoyed the cooler weather outside.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

I had the Rotary Cutters group over at my house on the first Tuesday of the month and with it being their second last meeting of the year, we made it a play date. Our last meeting will be dining (drinking) out in December.

We layered the tables with newspaper sheets and then the cutting, spraying and packing started. Now they all know why we were taught to cut and paste in our earlier school years. You never know when you'll need it again.

Elsa covering her top layer with SOLVE before the free motion stitching is done.

She had a class with me the next evening and brought along her completed bowl. Turned out pretty with it being different colors on the in- and outside.

Sonja threading her machine after her fabric has been packed and layered between two layers of SOLVE.

Estelle trying to make sense of the strips and colors.

Marietjie, talking non-stop, while cutting out circles for her bowl.

Jolita packing strips and after rinsing the SOLVE, she tied her bowl with ribbon to keep the shape.

Wilna quietly doing her thing in her corner.

Daléne decided to take a short cut with bigger squares.

Frances had the most interesting array of fabric and decorations. This should turn out rather beautiful.

Unfortunately we had to wait for these to dry overnight and finished much earlier than anticipated but that was just the ideal excuse to enjoy the 2 bottles of 'Bloos' wine Estelle brought along.

See you in December ladies - this time drinking only, no sewing or working on a project!

Monday, November 07, 2011

I had the first of 4 chickens deboned at 08:30 this morning. More than halfway through any chicken pie or chicken salad planned for the next month or so.

Many moons ago DH gave me this necklace with matching bracelet and earrings. With me being allergic to gold and everything fake, this became the only jewelry I wore until the parrots decided they liked the little balls on the cluster more and slowly but surely these disappeared.

I tried to wear fakes for a couple of months but ended up itching and scratching like a pet with fleas, so I had it fixed. I had to give up my bracelet to do this but then I got this clever idea of having the jeweler make the cluster removable.

With my early morning walking buddy being the sister of the wife of the best known jeweler in town it was easy to relay my idea as she knew exactly what I had. Nope, she could unfortunately not negotiate a discount! This is what my remodeled necklace looked like.

Now walking buddy also made costume jewelry for a while but got sick of it and it just again made me realize how lucky we are to be quilters. One simply never gets tired of it. If you don't want to make a huge bed quilt, you can always opt for a smaller quilted item.

Anyway, I gave her arm a final twist to make me clusters in different colors to occasionally be able to change these and look what I got!! She also made a couple of clip-on chains to use when I turn the necklace wrong way front to give it somewhat of a different look.

Now I can feel dressed again. The second chicken is cooked and ready for deboning, so I better get going.